Adding machine for systems not having uniform



Jan. 10, 1967 A. CORTONA ET AL 3,297,246

ADDING MACHINE FOR SYSTEMS NOT HAVING UNIFORM DECIMAL DENOMINATIONS Filed Sept. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS A LESSANDRO CORTONA REMO FALCONIERI AGE/YT Jan. 10, 1967 A. CORTONA ET AL 3,297,246

ADDING MACHINE FOR SYSTEMS NOT HAVING UNIFORM DECIMAL DENOMINATIONS 2 Sheets-Shee t 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1965 United States Patent 3,297,246 ADDING MACHINE FOR SYSTEMS NOT HAVING UNIFORM DECIMAL DENOMINATIONS Alessandro Cortona, Banchette, and Remo Falconieri, Giorgio Canavese, Italy, assignors to lug. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A., Ivrea, Italy, a corporation of Italy Filed Sept. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 489,276 Claims priority, application Italy, Sept. 30, 1964, 21,452/ 64 6 Claims. (Cl. 235--60) The present invention relates to an adding machine for systems not having uniform decimal denominations, wherein at least one denomination may have a number of units higher than nine, said machine comprising a key for setting each figure of said one denomination higher than nine, and a sensing member for said one denomination adapted to move an actuator through normally eflective motion reducing means.

Various adding machines of the above mentioned type for the British currency system are already known. In one known ten-key adding machine, a set up carriage is equipped with twelve settable stop pins for each denomination, whereby the actuator of the pence may be displaced by the sensing member according to a constant transmission ratio. In another known adding machine, the carriage is equipped with only a stop pin for each figure from zero to nine, while the keys for setting ten and eleven pence are adapted to set dillerentially an auxiliary member for suitably changing the transmission ratio between the sensing member and the actuator Therefore, all these machines require a number of different settable members equal to the number of units of the non-decimal denomination. Furthermore, in the "case the amount is to be set up automatically under the control of code combinations, a dilferent code combination is required for each figure higher than nine, thus reducing the possibility of obtaining other controls by means of these code combination-s.

These andother disadvantages are obviated by the adding machine according to the invention, which is very simple and reliable in opera-tion and requires only one additional settable member, and therefore, only one code combination for all the figures higher than nine. Particularly, the adding machine is characterized by a mem- 'ber settable by said key together with stop means repre- 'sentative of the units of said one denomination besides ten units for disabling said reducing means, said stop means being adapted to be sensed by said sensing member for causing said actuator to be accordingly moved besides its nine position when said settable member is to set.

This and other characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof made byway of example and not in a limiting sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a partial left hand sectional view of a ten-key adding machine according to the invention, adapted to the British currency system.

FIG. 2 shows a partial plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 5 indicates the conventional pin stop carriage adapted to be transversely moved step by step. The carriage 5 is equipped with nine stop pins 6 for the figures from zero to eight, and is settable by a ten-key keyboard comprising a key 7 'for ice each figure from zero to nine. Each key 7 by means of a tapered edge 8 is adapted to displace rearwards a corresponding setting slide 9 for setting the corresponding stop pin 6. The slide 9 in the figure nine does not set up any stop pin 6.

The stop pins 6 may be sensed by a set of actuators formed of racks 10 (FIG. 2) differentially movable upwards (FIG. 1) under the control of a conventional universal bar 11 to accumulate an amount into a register comprising a pair of intermeshing pinions 12 (FIG. 2) for each decimal denomination. In the case of the figure nine, the racks 10 are arrested by a stationary guide bar 13(FIG.1).

As it is known, the lower denomination of the British currency system is the pence denomination, which may have a number of units from zero to eleven. The register of the machine comprises also a pair of pinions 14 for the pence denomination. The pinions 14 have the same diameter as the decimal pinions 12 but tweleve teeth instead of ten. The pinions 14 may cooperate with a cooresponding actuator formed of a rack 16 differentially movable upwards under the control of the universal bar 11 and having a pitch equal to of the pitch of the racks 10. The rack 16 controls in a known manner a corresponding type Wheel 17 for printing the pence.

The rack 16 is unadapted to sense the stop pins 6 of the carriage, which on the contrary are sensed by a sensing member or rack 23 normally spring urged upwards to contact the universal bar 11. To this end the rack 23 is provided with a lug 24 bent leftward (FIG. 2) for cooperating with the column of pins 6 placed in front of the rack 16. This latter is also provided with a slot 25 (FIG. 1) cooperating with a pin 26 secured to the rack 23.

Motion reducing means formed of a pair of integral gears 19 and 21 are provided for normally engaging a toothed edge 18 of the rack 16 and a toothed edge 22 of the rack 23. The gears 19 and 21 have an equal number of teeth, but different diameter, in order to reduce the displacement of the actuating rack 16 with respect to the sensing rack 23, according to the ratio The gears 19 and 21 are fulcrumed on a pin 20 secured to a lever 27 pivoted on a stationary shaft 28. The lever 27 is urged by a spring 29 to contact a cam 30 secured to a conventional cyclically operating main shaft 31 of the machine. The shaft 31 is adapted to effect a full counterclockwise revolution for each machine cycle. The gear 21 is also adapted to engage a stationary toothed member 32.

The lever 27 is provided with a lug 33 adapted to cooperate with a projection 34 of a settable member or slide 36 slidably mounted on two stationary pins 37 and 38. The slide 36 is provided with a shoulder 39 normally urged by a spring 41 to contact a lug 42 of a lever 43 pivoted on the pin 38. The lever 43 is urged clockwise by a spring 44 and is provided with a lug 46 adapted to cooperate with an arm 47 of a bail 48 pivoted on a stationary shaft 49. The bail 48 is also pin and slot connected with a stem 51 of a non-decimal key for setting up ten pence. Another arm 52 of the bail 48 is adapted to engage a shoulder 53 (FIG. 2) of the setting slide 9 for the figure zero. Furthermore, the lug 46 of the lever 43 is adapted to cooperate with an arm 54 of another bail 56 (FIG. 1) pivoted on the shaft 49 and pin and slot connected with a stem 57 of another nondecimal key for setting up eleven pence. Another arm 58 of the bail 56 is adapted to engage a shoulder 59 (FIG. 2) of the setting slide 9 for the figure one.

Finally, the slide 36 is provided with a projection 61 normally contacted by a pin 63 of an arm 64 under the urge of a spring 62, which prevails over the spring 41. The arm 64 is secured to a shaft 65 rotatably mounted on the machine frame. Secured to the shaft 65 is also a second arm 66 provided with a lug 67 adapted to cooperate with a resetting member or pawl 68. This latter is moved upwards at the end of each machine cycle for resetting the carriage 5, in a manner known per se.

The adding machine operates as follows:

When a key 7 is depressed for setting up a figure from zero to nine in the pence denomination, the corresponding tapered edge 8 displaces the corresponding setting slide 9 rearwards (leftwards in FIG. 1) to set up a corresponding stop pin 6, excepting the case of the figure nine. At the beginning of the cycle of the main shaft 31, the cam 30 releases the lever 27, which is urged counterclockwise by spring 29, but its lug 33 is immediately stopped by the projection 34 of the slide 36. In this way, since the gears 19 and 21 engage the racks 16, andv 23 respectively, when the universal bar 11 is moved upwards the rack 23 is displaced until its lug 24 is stopped by the stop pin 6 set up for the pence. The rack 23, through the gears 19 and 21, displaces the rack 16 upwards a stroke reduced according to the ratio The typewheel 17 and the register pinions 14 are thus rotated so many steps as the units of the set up figure. On the contrary, when the ten pence key is depressed, its stem 51 rocks the bail 48 clockwise. Now the arm 52 of the bail 48 displaces rearwards the slide 9 for the figure zero, thus setting up the corresponding stop pin 6 of the carriage 5. Furthermore, the arm 47 of the bail 48 engages the lug 46 of the lever 43, which is now rocked counterclockwise. The lug 42 of the lever 43 releases the slide 36, which is quickly moved rearwards by the spring 41 to a set position, thus displacing its projection 34 out of the path of the lug 33.

At the beginning of the cycle, the cam 30 releases the lever 27, which may now be rocked counterclockwise by the spring 29. The lever 27 disengages thus the gears 19.and 21 from. the racks 16 and 23, andcauses the gear 21 to engage the toothed member 32. When the universal bar 11 is moved upwards, the rack 23 is now immediately stopped by the set zero stop pin 6, while the rack 16 is displaced upwards until the lower edge of the slot 25 abuts the pin 26 of the rack 23. The pinions 14 and the wheel 17 are now rotated ten steps.

Finally, when the eleven pence key is depressed, the corresponding stem 57 rocks the bail 56, which through its arm 59 displaces rearwards the slide 9 for the figure one, thus setting up the corresponding stop pin 6. In turn the arm 54 rocks the lever 43, thus releasing the slide 36 in a manner similar to that of the depression of the ten pence key.

At the beginning of the cycle, the lever 27 disengages the, gears 19 and ,21 from the. racks .16 and 23, as it happened in the preceding case. During the cycle the lug 24 of the rack 23 is stopped by the set one stop pin 6, whereas the rack 16 is stopped by the bar 13 upon being displaced eleven steps.

It is thus clear that the member 36 may be set by the non-decimal keys together with the pins 6 representing the units of the pence denomination besides ten units, and it is adapted to disengage the gears 19 and 21 which are normally effective for reducing the motion from the member 23 to the actuator 16, the pin 6 being adapted to be sensed by the member 23 for causing the actuator 16 to be accordingly moved besides its nine position.

In any case, at the end of each cycle, the resetting pawl 68 is moved upwards and resets the carriage and stop pins 6 in a known manner. Furthermore, the pawl 4 68 engages the lug 67 and rocks the arm 66 counterclockwise together with the shaft 65 and the arm 64. The pin 63 of the arm 64 restores the slide 36 forwards, thus causing the lever 43 to latch again the shoulder 39 of the slide 36 by means of the lug 42.

The described pence setting device is particularly useful in the case the amount is to be set up automatically under the control of code combinations or permutations of the type wherein each figure is represented by a pulse combination according to a binary code. For this purpose the adding machine is equipped with an automatic setting device comprising code responsive means formed of ten slides 69 each one adapted to be displaced downwards, in a manner known per se, under the control of a corresponding code combination. A similar setting device is substantially described in the United States Patent No. 3,010,653 to Canepa, with reference to the slides 17 thereof, which are horizontally movable instead of being vertically movable as the slides 69 of this invention. Each slide 69 is linked at 71 with a corresponding lever 72 pivoted on a shaft 73 and adapted to engage a shoulder 74 (FIG. 2) of the corresponding setting slide 9.

The automatic setting device comprises also a code responsive element or slide 76 (FIG. 1) adapted to be displaced downwards under the control of a code combination representing ten units. The slide 76 is linked at 77 with a lever 78 pivoted at 79 and is equipped with a pin 81 adapted to engage a projection 82 of the lever 43.

In the case a figure from zero to nine is to be automatically set up in the pence denomination, the corresponding code combination controls the downwards displacement of the corresponding slide 69. This latter through the lever 72 displaces the slide 9 rearwards,

in a similar manner as in the case of the depression of the corresponding key 7.

In the case either ten or eleven pence are to be set up, the code combination representing the ten units of pence controls the downwards displacement of the slide 76, which rocks the lever 78 clockwise. Now the pin 81 engages the projection 82 of the lever 43, which is thus rocked counterclockwise, in a similar manner as in the case of the depression of the key setting ten or the eleven pence. The units of pence besides ten units, are represented by the code combination for the corresponding figure, that is in the case of ten pence by the combination assigned to the figure'zero, and in the case of eleven pence by the combination assigned to figure one. Now. this combination causes the corresponding slide 69, through the lever 72 and the slide 9, to set up the corresponding stop pin 6 of the carriage 5, in a manner similar to that of the key depression for manually setting ten or eleven pence.

' What I claim is:

1. An adding machine for systems not having uniform decimal denominations, of which at least one denomination may have a number of units higher than nine, said machine having a key for setting each figure of said denomination higher than nine, a differentially movable actuating rack for said one denomination, a sensing rack, a pair of integral gears normally engaging said racks for reducing the motion from said sensing rackto said actuating rack, and a cyclically operating mechanism, and comprising in combination:

(a) a member forsupporting said gears, said supporting member being adapted to be operated by said operating mechanism for disabling said gears,

(b) means settable by said key according to the units of said one denomination besides ten units and adapted to be sensed by said sensing rack,

(c) a settable member normally preventing the operation of said supporting member and adapted to be set by said key together with said stop means for causing said supporting member to be operated,

(d) and means effective when said settable member is so set for causing said actuating rack to be moved besides its nine position under the control of said sensing rack.

2. A ten-key adding machine for systems not having uniform decimal denominations, of which at least one denomination may have a number of units higher than nine, said machine having a transversely movable set-up carriage comprising in each denomination a number of stop pins associated with the figures from zero to nine and individually settable at the depression of the corresponding one of said ten keys, a non-decimal key for each figure of said denomination higher than nine, a difierentially movable actuator for said one denomination, a sensing member for sensing the stop pins so set, and normally effective motion reducing means between said sensing member and said actuator, and comprising in combination:

(a) means for supporting said reducing means, said supporting means being conditionable for disabling said reducing means,

(b) a ten units representing member settable for conditioning said supporting means,

(c) means operable at depression of said non-decimal key for simultaneously setting both said settable member and a stop pin of said carriage corresponding to the units of said figure besides ten units,

(d) and means effective when said settable member is so set for causing said actuator to be moved besides its nine position according to the steps effected by said sensing member in sensing said stop pin.

3. A ten-key adding machine for systems not having uniform decimal denominations, of which at least one denomination may have a number of units higher than nine, said machine having a pin stop carriage settable according to the figures from zero to nine, a non-decimal key for each figure of said denomination higher than nine, a differentially movable actuating rack for said one denomination, a sensing rack, a pair of integral gears normally engaging said racks for reducing the motion from said sensing rack to said actuating rack, and a cyclically operating mechanism, and comprising in combination:

(a) a member for supporting said gears, said supporting member being adapted to be operated by said operating mechanism for disabling said gears,

(b) a settable member normally preventing the operation of said supporting member and adapted to be set for causing said supporting member to be operated,

(c) means operable at depression of said non-decimal key for simultaneously setting said settable member and a stop pin of said carriage corresponding to the units of said figure besides ten units,

((1) and an element secured to one of said racks for arresting said actuating rack besides its nine position according to the steps effected by said sensing rack in sensing said stop pin.

4. A ten-key adding machine for systems not having uniform decimal denominations, of which at least one denomination may have a number of units higher than nine, said machine having a transversely movable set-up carriage comprising in each denomination a number of stop pins associated with the figures from Zero to nine and individually settable at the depression of the corresponding one of said ten keys, a non-decimal key for setting each figure of said denomination higher than nine, a differentially movable actuator for said one denomination, a sensing member for sensing the stop pins so set, and normally effective motion reducing means between said sensing member and said actuator, and comprising in combination:

(a) means for supporting said reducing means, said supporting means being conditionable for disabling said reducing means,

(b) a ten units representing member settable for conditioning said supporting means,

(c) means operable at depression of said non-decimal key for simultaneously setting both said settable member and a stop pin of said carriage corresponding to the units of said figure beside ten units,

((1) means effective when said settable member is so set for causing said actuator to be moved besides its nine position under the control of said sensing member,

(e) code responsive means for setting the stop pin associated with each figure from zero to nine under the control of a corresponding code combination, said responsive means being also adapted to set a stop pin of said carriage corresponding to the number of units of said one denomination besides ten units,

(f) and a code responsive element for setting said settable member under the control of a code combination representing said ten units.

5. A ten-key adding machine for systems not having uniform decimal denominations, of which at least one denomination may have a number of units higher than nine, said machine having a transversely movable set-up carriage comprising in each denomination a number of stop pins associated with the figures from zero to nine and individually settable at the depression of the corresponding one of said ten keys, a non-decimal key for setting each figure of said denomination higher than nine, a differentially movable actuator for said one denomina tion, a sensing member for sensing the stop pins so set, normally effective motion reducing means between said sensing member and said actuator, and a cyclically operating mechanism, and comprising in combination:

(a) means for supporting said reducing means, said supporting means being adapted to be operated by said operating mechanism for disabling said reducing means,

(b) a ten units representing member settable for conditioning said supporting means,

(c) means operable at depression of said non-decimal key for simultaneously setting both said settable member and a stop pin of said carriage corresponding to the units of said figure besides ten units,

((1) means effective when said settable member is so set for causing said actuator to be moved besides its nine position under the control of said sensing member,

(e) and a set-up resetting member operable by said mechanism for simultaneously resetting said set-up carriage and said settable member so set.

6. In a ten-key adding machine for systems not having uniform decimal denominations, of which at least one denomination may have a number of units higher than nine,

said machine having a pin stop carriage settable according the figures from zero to nine, a non-decimal key for each figure of said denomination higher than nine, a differentially movable actuating rack for said one denomination, a sensing rack, a pair of integral gears normally engaging said racks for reducing the motion from said sensing rack to said actuating rack, and a cyclically operating mechanism, and comprising in combination:

(a) a member for supporting said gears, said supporting member being adapted to be operated by said operating mechanism for disabling said gears,

(b) a settable member normally preventing the operation of said supporting member and adapted to be set for causing said supporting member to be operated,

(c) means operable at depression of said non-decimal key for simultaneously setting said settable member and a stop pin of said carriage corresponding to the units of said figure besides ten units,

(d) an element secured to one of said racks for arrestin-g said actuating rack besides its nine position according to the steps elfected by said sensing rack in sensing said stop pin,

(e) code responsive means for setting each figure from zero to nine under the control of a corresponding codecombination, said responsive means being also adapted to set a corresponding number of units of said one denomination besides ten units,

(f) a code responsive element for setting said settable member under the control of a code combination representing said ten units,

(g) and a set-up resetting member operable by said mechanism for simultaneously resetting said stop pin and said settable member so set.

Swanson et a1. 235-l45 Gang 235145 X Capellaro et a1 23560 Parker 23560 Allward' 2356O Canepa 235-146 10 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

LEO SMILOW, Examiner.

JAMES G, MURRAY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ADDING MACHINE FOR SYSTEMS NOT HAVING UNIFORM DECIMAL DENOMINATIONS, OF WHICH AT LEAST ONE DENOMINATION MAY HAVE A NUMBER OF UNITS HIGHER THAN NINE, SAID MACHINE HAVING A KEY FOR SETTING EACH FIGURE OF SAID DENOMINATION HIGHER THAN NINE, A DIFFERENTIALLY MOVABLE ACTUATING RACK FOR SAID ONE DENOMINATION, A SENSING RACK, A PAIR OF INTEGRAL GEARS NORMALLY ENGAGING SAID RACKS FOR REDUCING THE MOTION FROM SAID SENSING RACK TO SAID ACTUATING RACK, AND A CYCLICALLY OPERATING MECHANISM, AND COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING SAID GEARS, SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO BE OPERATED BY SAID OPERSATING MECHANISM FOR DISABLING SAID GEARS, (B) MEANS SETTABLE BY SAID KEY ACCORDING TO THE UNITS OF SAID ONE DENOMINATION BESIDES TEN UNITS AND ADAPTED TO BE SENSED BY SAID SENSING RACK, (C) A SETTABLE MEMBER NORMALLY PREVENTING THE OPERATION OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO BE SET BY SAID KEY TOGETHER WITH SAID STOP MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER TO BE OPERATED, (D) AND MEANS EFFECTIVE WHEN SAID SETTABLE MEMBER IS SO SET FOR CAUSING SAID ACTUATING RACK TO BE MOVED BESIDES ITS NINE POSITION UNDER THE CONTROL OF SAID SENSING RACK. 